Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-27

Before he could renecG on WnaG ne was QolnS
he was alongside Of the man, and, catching
him by tho throat, had hurled him backward
over his crupper with all the force he could
command. The man fell heavily upon his
shoulders, and instantly there was a great
hubbub John drew his revolver, and the
other Beers raised their rifles, and jess
thought that there was an end Of it, and put
her hand before her face, having first thanked
John for avenging the insult with swift
flash of her beautiful eyes. And, indeed, in
another second it would have been all over
had not the elder man who had taken the pass
interposed; the fact being that he had wit
messed the proceedings that led to his follow
er's discontinue, and, being decent man at
bottom, had disapproved of them.
"Leave them alone and put down those
guns" he shouted "It served Jacobus right;
he was trying to push the girl from the horse.
Almighty it is not wonderful those English
call us brute beasts when you boys do such
things. Put down your guns, say, and one
of you help Jacobus up. He looks as sick as
buck with bullet through it."
Accordingly the row passed over. and the
playful Jacobus-whom jess noted with sat-
isfaction was exceedingly sick and trembling
in every limb-was with difficulty hoisted on
to his horse, and proceeded on his journey
with not single bit Of fun left in him.
a little while after this jess pointed out
long, low hill that lay upon the fat belt, q
dozen miles or so away, like stone on
stretch Of sand.
"Look," she said; "there is Mooifontein at
last!"
ave are not there yet," remarked John,
sadly.
Another weary half hour passed, and then
they suddenly, on passing over crest, saw
Hans Coetzee's homestead lying down by the
water in the hollow. So that was where
they were being taken to.
Within hundred yards of the house the
Beers halted and consulted, except Jacobus,
who went on, still looking very green. Finally
the elder man came to them and addressed
Jess, at the same time handing her back the
pass "You can 60 on home," he said. "The
Englishman must stay with us till we find out
more about him."
"He says that can 60 What shall do9"
asked jess. II don't like leaving you with
these men,"
"Doa why go, of course. can look after
myself; and If can't, certainly you won't be
able to help me. Perhaps you will be able to
get some help at the farm. At any rate, you
must co."
"Now, Englishman," said the Boer.
"Good by, jess, said John "God bless you !"
"Good by, john" she answered, looking
him steadily in the eyes for a moment, and
then turning away to hide the tears which
would gather in her own.
And thus they parted.
She knew her way now, even across the
open veldt, for she dared not 60 by the road.
There was, however, a bride path that ran
over the hill at the back Of the house, and for
this she shaped her course It was o'clock
now, and both she and her horse were in q
condition of great exhaustion, which was en-
hanced in her case by want of food and
trouble Of mind. But she was a strong
woman and had will Of iron, and she held
on where most women would have died. Jess
meant to get to Mooifontein somehow, and
she knew that she would get there If she
could only reach the place and get some help
sent to her lover, she did not greatly care
what happened to her afterward. The pace
Of the horse she was riding got slower and
slower. From the ambling canter into which
at first she managed occasionally to
travel in South Africa, it continually COL
lapsed into rough, short trot, which was
agony to her, riding as she was, and from
that into walk. Indeed. just before sunset,
or little after 6 o'clock, the walk became
final. at last they reached the rising ground
that stretched up the slope to the Mooifontein
hill, and here the poor beast fell down, ut
terly worn out. Jess slipped Off and tried to
drug it up, but failed. 1t had not yard of
60 left in it. So she did what she could, pull
ing off the bride and undoing the girth, so
that the saddle would fall off if the horse ever
managed to rise. Then she set to work to
walk over the hill. The poor horse watched
her go with melancholy eyes, knowing that it
was being deserted First it neighed, then,
with q desperate effort, struggled to its feet
and ran after her hundred yards or so, only
to fall down again at last. jess turned and
saw it, and, exhausted Us she was, she pos
itively ran to get away from the look in those
III which the horse perished, as "poor" horses
are apt to do.
1t was nearly dark when jess at length
reached the top Of tho hill and looked down.
She knew the spot we'll, and from it she could
always see the light from the kitchen window
of the house. Tonight there was no light.
Wondering what it could mean, and feeling q
fresh chill Of doubt creep round her heart,
she scrambled on down the hill When she was
about half way down shower Of sparks sud-
denly shot up into the air from the spot
where tho house should be, caused by the fall
of piece of wall into the smouldering embers
beneath. Again Jess paused, wondering and
aghast. What could have happened! De-
termined ut all hazards to discover, she crept
on very cautiously. Before she had gone
another twenty yards, however, hand was
suddenly laid upon her arm. She turned
quickly, too paralyzed with fear to cry out,
and as she. did so voice that was familiar to
her whispered. "Missie jess, Missile Jess, is it
your into her ear. ~ am Jantje."
She gave a sigh of relief, and her heart,
which had stood still, began to move again.
Here was friend at last
II heard you coming down the hill, though
you came so SOFTLY" he said; "but l could
not tell who it was. because you jumped from
rock to rock, and did not walk as usual. But
I thought it was q woman with boots; I
could not SEQ, because the light all falls dead
against tho hill, and tile stars arc not up. So
1 got to the left of your path-for the wind IS
blowing from the right-and waited till you
had passed, and winded you Then l knew
who you were for certain-either you or
Missie Bessie; but Missile Bessie is shut up so
it could not be her."
bessie shut up!" calculated jess, not even
pausing to marvel at the doglike instinct that
enabled the Hottentot to identify her. "What
do you mean"
"This way, missile; come this way and l will
tell you;" and he led her to fantastic pile
of rocks in which it was his wild habit to
Sleep jess knew the place well, and had
often peeped into, but never entered, the
Hottentot's kennel.
aStop bit, missile. I will 60 and
light a candle; I have some in there,
and they can't see the light from the
outside" and accordingly he vanished.
In q few seconds he returned, and,
taking her by the sleeve, led her along q
winding passage between great powders, till
they came to beehole in the rocks, through
which she could see thelight shining Going
down on his hands and knees Juntje crept
through and jess followed him. She found
49, = !